Page 136 of Tides That Bind

“Mmm,” I answer, using the rubber band to fasten the longlocks together. “I’ve got a love-hate relationship with it. On one hand, it drives mecrazy.”

I lean forward, nuzzling the space behind her ear.

Harper’s breathing sharpens. “And on the other hand?”

“Every time it hides even a centimeter of your gorgeous face I’m tempted to shave it off.” I secure the bun and slide my hands to Harper’s waist and turn her around to face me. “That’s better.”

Harper bites her bottom lip, raising her hand to her head. “You’re going to give me breakage with the rubber band.”

I draw circles against the bare skin of her waist before I dip to her ear again. “You won’t be complaining about anything after I’m done with you.”

Harper draws a sharp breath when I catch the top of her ear between my teeth. Like a reflex, she grabs onto me.

Beyond her, my eyes find the hoop. “Take off your clothes.”

Harper tenses.

“You said we’re alone. Take off your clothes so I can see all of you.”

I slide one hand from Harper’s waist, moving across her stomach and down where I cup her. I groan from how she warms my palm immediately.

“You said that last night. You saw all of me last night,” Harper reminds me, clutching my shoulders. Her breathing grows faster when I press my hand firmer against her. A soft moan escapes her lips when I push the heel of my hand higher.

When she starts rocking against me, I back away. Harper’s shoulders slump.

I run my tongue across my lips as I watch the way her chest rises and falls with need.

Need forme.

Stepping closer so I’m able to tilt Harper’s chin up, I tell her, “If you thought last night filled my cup of you, you’re wrong. It wasn’t even a tasting.”

Harper’s eyes flutter shut and she leans forward but I stepout of reach again. If I kiss her now, we’ll be fucking on the floor. And, while I’m normally happy to be a man without a plan, right now I have one worth sticking to.

Harper sighs deeply and slips off my hoodie, tossing it at me. I bring it to my nose, inhaling the scent of her imbedded into the fabric. I nearly deviate again, tempted to burrow into the sweet smell that mirrors the scent of the perfect valleys carved by her collarbones.

But when Harper lifts her sports bra over her head and I get a glimpse of her tight, pink nipple, I remember I’m not a patron visiting a bakery just to admire the whiffs of the pastries of the day.

I rub my chin when she steps out of her shoes, socks, and tugs her shorts down.

I came to feast.

With her hair pulled tightly back and the low, studio light illuminating her body, I’m satisfied, but only to an extent.

I motion at the hoop.

“Get on.”

Harper’s head follows the direction before she whips it back to me. “Like this?” She holds her arms up for emphasis.

I quickly move to her, unable to stop myself from cupping her breast and teasing her nipple with the pad of my thumb. “Yes. Get up there like this,” I tell her, watching her beautiful eyes shut from my touch. “But spread your legs. All the way.”

My orders draw a whimper from her mouth. I slide my hand down, but stop in the middle of her stomach, giving her a soft push backward toward the hoop.

She turns. Every step she takes away from me is torture. But somehow, admiring the curve of her ass makes it sting less and made even better Harper reaches up to grab the curved sides of the hoop, lifting her body with ease and sliding into it. She adjusts, slipping her feet through to sit balanced and I lick my lips again in anticipation.

I move to her. “Bring your legs up.”

Harper bends her knees, pulling them up.

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